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Chicago Weather History

December 19, 2004|By Tom Skilling

December 1973: Eight days in a row of measurable snow

Snow had been a no-show in Chicago during the fall of 1973 with none recorded in October and only a trace in November. The measurable snow season finally began on Dec. 6 with 0.6", and after five straight days of light snow or flurries, the month's (and season's) total had reached a meager 1.2". All that was about to change dramatically, however, when eight consecutive days of measurable snowfall from Dec. 13-20--the second-longest stretch in Chicago's history--officially blanketed the city with 20.9" of snow. Chicago was assured a White Christmas and four more days of snow from Dec. 26-30 brought the city's December 1973 snowfall total to a robust 26", making it Chicago's fifth snowiest December on record.

System snow and lake effect combine forces to increase totals

During the eight-day snowy stretch, snowfall totals north of Chicago were greatly enhanced by lake effect. During the Dec. 15-16 snow, lake-effect snow bands remained nearly stationary over Lindenhurst in northeast Lake County, dumping 28" of snow, while much of the city received only 6-8". And on Dec. 19 and 20, when a storm passing south of the city brought general 8-10" totals to the metropolitan area, lake effect increased snowfall totals to 14-20" in areas from Waukegan to Lake Forest.

Sources: National Weather Service archives, Frank Wachowski

WGN-TV/Steve Kahn

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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.